หมอ
mɔ̌ɔ/mɔː˩˩˦/
The everyday word for doctor in Thai is หมอ (mɔ̌ɔ), used for a person qualified to treat people who are ill.
หมอ is the common, everyday term for a doctor. Thai speakers also use it colloquially for various traditional healers and practitioners, not only for medical doctors.
Which one should you use?
แพทย์ is the formal term for a medical doctor. หมอ is what people say in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
หมอ is informal and everyday. แพทย์ is the formal word, the one you will see in official or written contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
หมอ is said mɔ̌ɔ, /mɔː˩˩˦/. It is one syllable with a long vowel close to the aw in law, said with a rising tone.
When do people say it?
To address a doctor politely, people put Khun in front of the word, saying Khun Mor. หมอ on its own is also used to address a doctor directly in a friendly or casual setting.
Did you know?
- The everyday word หมอ is actually a descendant of an ancient word for a 'shaman' or 'spirit medium'.
- Because หมอ can refer to many types of practitioners, you might hear it used for people like traditional herbal healers or even fortune tellers.
Examples in context
- ทอมจะเป็นหมอที่ดีTom will be a good doctor.หมอ comes after the verb for to be, giving Tom will be a good doctor.Tatoeba #10321845 by Somsak, translation #3426094 by CK
- หมอยังไม่มาที่นี่The doctor hasn't gotten here yet.หมอ starts the sentence here, so it means the doctor who is expected.Tatoeba #10556540 by Somsak, translation #6347725 by CK
- พ่อของคุณเป็นหมอหรือ?Is your father a doctor?Here หมอ is asked about, as in is your father a doctor.Tatoeba #8722756 by pastelite, translation #609041 by CK
- หมอที่โรงพยาบาลนี้เป็นหมอที่ดีมากThe doctor at this hospital is a very good doctor.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Vittawat asks Nicha about her job at the hospital.
- วิทวัส Witthawatณิชาเป็นหมอใช่ไหม?nicha pen mor chai mai?Are you a doctor, Nicha?
- ณิชา Nichaใช่ค่ะ ฉันเป็นหมอที่โรงพยาบาลนี้chai kha. chan pen mor thi rong-pha-ya-khan niYes, I am a doctor at this hospital.
- วิทวัส Witthawatเก่งมากเลยครับkeng mak loei krapThat is very impressive.
- ณิชา Nichaขอบคุณค่ะkhop khun khaThank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry หมอ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries หมอ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
